Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-08-13
THE RING SLOWING HABIT.
The Sad Spectacle OF Depraved Young
smoker Observed by q Reporter.

~- S"''Neu py - nSpoHtehs
They were sitting In the yeranda of the
pavilion at staten Island, gazing dreamily
at the lights Of the Brooklyn bridge be
tween the mosquitoes and the wreaths Of
their smoke when the elder OF the twain
observed his companion blow ring of
cigarette smoke from his lips and watch
il float Upward into the air with an eX-
preston Of mingled contentment.
Foolish boy lie remarked pityingly.
"Why foolish, 1octors What have |
done now
'You are destroying all your pleasure
in smoking, if any who smokes cigarettes
can take pleasure in smoking
How so' don't see that am taking
less pleasure than you are"
But YOU are" returned the elder,
..much less. Now warrant You didn't
see that pretty girl who passed by mo
ment ago, and rs for that yacht with its
gay lights which just steamed down the
kill, it might rs well have been a coal
barge for any pleasure you took out of the
sight"
What girl'' exclaimed the youth. 81
didn't see any. Neither did | see the
yacht But" he continued pettishly, II
can't be looking out for such things all
the time. Life is too short and pretty
girls and yachts too plenty"
True, but they were not put in this
world to he neglected, and you will con
tinue to neglect such beautiful sights so
long as you persist in the useless and
pernicious habit OF blowing smoke into
those absurd rings"
.'Rings, What on earth do you mean;'
"Just what | say. The effort it takes
You to curl your smoke into circles de
stroys all the pleasure which tobacco gives
to the smoker. You judge Of the excel
lence of a cigarette or a cigur by the num-
Der of rings it contains to the inch. Your
mind is upon the smoke, not upon the fra
GRANGE of the weed"
Il don't see it exactly in that light"
''Of course not. The habit ia a selfish
and insidious one. II grows upon its
victim imperceptibly. 1t makes one
morose and unsociable. l have noticed
half dozen times tonight that you were
paying no attention whatever 10 my re
marks, watching those silly rings you are
pulling your manners away in. Not only
have you been inattentive, but have seen
you suddenly stop in the middle OF sen
tence and make frantic and undignified
effort to send second ring through the
center oil one you have Just blown as
circus tumbler risks his neck to eclipse his
previous effort somersaulting. Then, too,
IL you were not addicted to this foolish
habit you might smoke cigars and be an
agreeable member Of society. l have
noticed that most ringsters are devOtees to
cigarettes simply from this sad craze.
Give il up, my hoy, and be sensible man"
'I-don't know but-what you
are-right," replied the youth slowly, his
right cheek expanded to its limit with
smoke which he pulled forth in a series Of
perfect circles.
I'm afraid you are beyond redemp-
tion," replied the elder, after short
pause.
''Perhaps-you puff are-right." re-
piled the young man, absent mindedly, as
he watched the ring collide with mus
quito and scatter into fieecy clouds over
his head. ''l'm tired; suppose We go to
bed. New York Mail and Express.